Machine for finishing shoes.



H. A. BALLARD.

MAGHINE FOR. FINISHING SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 24, 1906.

Patented Nov. 17,1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Jae/@1650)- Zl/pboesaa 'IE NORRI: PETERS (0.. PHOTO-LITHOH \VifiIHINUYON, '2v 1.

H'. A. BALLARD. MACHINE FO/R FINISHING SHOES. APPLICATION FILED 001224, 1906. 1 1 1 7,299.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. A. BALLARD.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1906.

1 ,1 1 7,299. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.-

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE Nvmu; HETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D, C.

H. A. BALLARD. MACHINE FOR FINISHING SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1906,

1,1 17,299, PateIlted Nov. 17, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

H. A. BALLARD.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING SHOES.

APPLICATION rum) 001224. 1906.

1, 1 17,299. Patented N0v. 17, 191.4.-

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOIIFLITHQ. WASHINQFTUN. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIE A. BALLARD, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYLSTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 17 1914 Application filed October 24, 1906. Serial No. 340,358. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRIE A. BALLARD, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in*Ma-' rubbed with a tool to remove wrinkles and surface imperfections.

In modern shoe shop practice many shoes are ironed in which case they are stretched upon tree feet, coated with a suitable liquid and rubbed with heated tools to impart to them a luster and finished appearance. The rubbing and ironing of the shoes has heretofore been accomplished upon machines, designed for that purpose, such machines being illustrated and described in Letters Patent No. 691576 granted to me Jan. 21, 1902, and No. 791,999, granted June 13, 1905. In many cases it has been found necessary to subject the shoes to a cleaning process in order to remove the wax, grease, or other substance with which the surface thereof becomes soiled in their manufacture, and heretofore this has been accomplished manually, and laboriously on account of the tenacity with which the wax or foreign substances adhere to the surfaces of the shoes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine by which the cleaning operation may be accomplished automatically without the employment of manual labor.

A further object of the invention is to combine the cleaning mechanism with the the accompanying drawings, and in the claims hereto appended.

ironed. In this way the ironing mechanism is given the function of a heater to prepare the shoe for the cleaning mechanism which is a valuable feature of my invention, since this preheating of the shoe or softening of the wax on the shoe assists greatly in its removal. I

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is an elevation of a combined treeing and cleaning machine embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l, but with part of the treeing mechanism broken away and. removed for clearness and simplicity. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cleaning mechanism hereinafter described. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the cleaning mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical sec-,

tion on line 66 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 7 shows in side elevation and U11 an enlarged scale, one

of the two pairs of brushes of the cleaning mechanism. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail of part of the controlling devices for the upper cross-head hereinafter described. Figs. 11 and 12 are details of the lower solvent reservoirhereinafter described. Figs. 13, 14 and 15, are details of the upper solvent reservoir here inafter described.

The ironing mechanism X that I have herein shown, is constructed and operates as fully described in Patent No. 7 91,999, to which reference maybe had. In brief the ironing mechanism X operates as follows The operator places the shoes on the trees of the turret 93, and by rotating the turret, shifts the shoes successively into position between the two cross-heads A and A, as shown in Fig. 1, where they'are operated upon by the heated treeingtools carried by the two cross-heads. When a shoe is brought into this position, the treeing mechanism is start ed by the depression of a treadle (not herein shown, but illustrated in said patent), whereupon the constantly driven driving pulley is clutched to the main shaft Z) and the latter makes a predetermined number of revolutions and then is automatically stopped. During the operation of the mechanism, the lever 3 is vibrated by the eccentric 6 causing the cross-heads to reciprocate together vertically with the tools carried thereby acting on. the shoe then held by its tree 95 in position between the two crossheads. In the machines constructed according to the patents above mentioned, the lower cross-hea d A makes twelve reciprocations at each operation of the ironing mechanism.

in my present machine the ironing mechanism K per se is constructed exactly as shown and described in the patents above mentioned, with the exception that the main shaft Z) is extended by means of sections Z2 and 5 connected by universal joints Zf', so as to impart movement to the cleaning mechanism Y, and with the further exception that the turret 93 coope ates with both' the cleaning mechanism Y and the ironing mechanism 11, all as hereinafter described.-

Shaft section b is journaled in a frame a, which supports two fixed rods 0, forming vertical ways for an upper cross-head (Z and a lower crosshead (Z. The lower crosshead (Z is connected by a link (Z with a lever (Z pivoted at (Z*. Lever (Z is connected by a pitman (Z with an eccentric (Z fixed to a shaft c, the latter being driven through a train of reducing gears e, e e, and e, by shaft 6 Pivoted at its lower end to the top of cross-head (Z, is a tube (Z open at its upper end to receive within it the lower end of a rod (Z pivoted at its upper end to the under side of cross-head (Z.

Cross-head (Z is made with an extension (Z and a shoulder (Z Fig. 5, to cooperate with a bolt or latch The bolt f is mounted in an inclined pocket f formed in a crossbar f fixed to the upper ends of rods 0. Normally, bolt f engages shoulder (Z and thereby supports cross-head (Z in its elevated position. Pivoted on crossbar f, is a lever f one arm of which engages bolt f and the other arm of which is weighted as at 10, so as to eXert a lifting tendency on bolt f, which is supplemented by the weight of a rod pivotally connected at its upper end to lever i At its lower end, (see Figs. 3 and 10), the rod f is pivotally connected to one arm of a lever f whose other arm coiiperates with a cam f, on a ratchet wheel 7" journaled loosely on a stud f projecting from frame 0. Cooperating with ratchet 7", is detent f pivoted on a stud projecting from frame 0, and a pawl f pivotally connected with acrank pin f on the end of shaft 6, so that for each rotation of shaft 0, and therefore for each reciprocation (of cross-head (Z, ratchet f is moved one step. Detent f and pawl f are shown as engaging the teeth f of ratchet f and there are eight of these teeth so that eight revolutions of shaft 0 will turn ratchet f to the extent of one revolution. Normally, that is when the mechanism is at rest, cam f is in engagement with lever f cross-head (Z is at its lowest point and cross-head (Z is supported at its highest point. -"vVhen the operator starts the ironing mechanism X in the usual way shaft 6 of course rotates in unison with shaft Z), and through the connections described raises cross-head (Z to its highest point, and at the same time, pawl f shifts ratchet one step, carrying cam f away from lever f As the cross-head (Z nears the limit of its upward movement, the upper end of tube (Z by engagement with acollar (Z on rod (Z raises cross-head (Z far enough to allow weight w and rod f to rock lever f and lift bolt 7, and hold said bolt out of the path of shoulder (Z until cam f reengages lever f at the completion of one revolution of ratchet f As soon as cross-head (Z is thus freed it moves up and down with cross-head (Z until the latter is lifted for the last or eighth time. During this last upward movement of crosshead (Z, cam f reengages lever f and the consequent lifting of rod f and movement of lever f returns bolt f into the path of shoulder (Z so that crosshead (Z is caught and held in its elevated position, while cross-head (Z descends to its normal position and the mechanism comes to a state of rest.

The train of reducing gears connecting shafts and c are so proportioned as to rotate shaft (2 eight times, during the same period of time that eccentric 6 of the treeing mechanism is making its twelve revolutions, and the reason for this is, that it is desirable to have the tools of the cleaning mechanism Y travel over the shoe at a slower rate of speed than that at which the tools of the ironing machine X pass over the shoe. Therefore, eight teeth are provided on ratchet wheel f so that at the completion of the eight revolutions of shaft 0, ratchet wheel f will have completed just one revolution and cross-head (Z will be caught and held at its highest point as described. With some classes of shoes it is required to have an even slower rate of travel imparted to the cross-heads (Z and (Z, and for this reason, the ratchet f is made with a second set of teeth f to which pawl f and detent f can be shifted by sidewise adjustment of said pawl and detent. Of course such a change requires a corresponding change in the proportions of the gears e c c and 6, but this may be accomplished by removing those herein shown and substituting others.

As tools for operating upon the shoe, I provide five rotary power driven brushes, comprising a brush 9 operating upon the toe and front of the shoe, two brushes h operating along the rand of the shoe, and two brushes 71) operating along the side seams of the shoe. The brush 9 is mounted in a frame 9 pivoted at g to cross-head (Z, and moves up and down with said cross head while the brushes 7L and is are carried by and move vertically with the cross-head (Z. The axle of brush a has connected to it one end of a flexible shaft 9?, the opposite end of which is coupled to a shaft Z journaled on frame 0 and constantly driven through a belt Z and pulley Z Fixed to shaft Z is a pulley Z connected with a pulley Z by a belt Z the pulley Z being fixed to a shaft Z journaled on frame 0. To the ends of shaft Z are coupled two flexible shafts 79, each connected at its opposite end with one end of the axle of one of the brushes 70, the other end of each of said axles being connected. by a flexible shaft 16 with the axle of one of the brushes 71. Thus all of the brushes are constantly driven from the shaft Z and are free to rise and fall with.

the cross-heads.

The axle of each rand brush it, see Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, is ournaled in the upper end of an arm it, pivoted at [L to a frame h which in turn is pivoted at li to one of the two arms of cross-head (Z, the relation of the pivots 1 1. and 72% being such as to provide for universal lateral movement of the upper end of arm h. Projecting downwardly from frame 71- is an arm 7L connected by a spring h with a rigid pin 7L7, projecting from cross-head d, and the two springs 7L tend to hold the two rand brushes it together, so that when elevated with cross-head d, they are, in contact with the shoe throughout the length of the latter, the spring 7L holding the brushes yieldingly against the shoe and the pivots h allowing the arms h to swing as the brushes follow the curvature of the shoe. In order to guide the brushes in a path substantially parallel with the sole, each arm it carries at its upper end a somewhat long roll h projecting into the slot of a cam m fixed by brackets m to rods 0. The slot of this cam m is substantially parallel with the sole of the shoe being operated upon and therefore, as the brushes rise and fall with the crosshead (1, the cams m act through rolls 7L on arms ii to guide said brushes along the rand of the shoe, the rolls it being long enough to always maintain engagement with the cams as the brushes move in and out in following the contour of the side of the shoe.

The axles of the brushes 7: are journaled in the upper ends of arms is pivoted directly to cross-head d by the pins 71., so as brushes and from the brushes to the shoe.

The reservoir n is fastened to a crossbar n at a point between the paths of the two pairs of brushes 7t and 7c and between those brushes when at their lowermost positions and the shoe being cleaned, so that said brushes in rising pass at each side of reservoir n. The crossbar a is fixed at its ends to two rods 11 which in turn are rigidly fixed to the frame of the machine. \Vithin reservoir 11 are two wicks n and two wicks a all of which at their upper end extend through the walls of reservoir 1 into the paths of the bristles of the brushes it and 70. Thus each time the brushes travel upward they rub against the wet wicks and pick up the solvent which they transfer to'the shoe at the proper points. The reservoir 0 is adjustably supported between the brush 9 and the shoe by a bracket 0 fixed to rods 0, and this reservoir 0 like the other is .pro

vided with a wick 0 extending through the wall thereof into the path of brush g, so as to supply solvent to the latter.

As shown in Fig. 2, the above described cleaning mechanism is peculiarly situated in that the turret 93 transports the shoes from the ironing mechanism X to the cleaning mechanism, so that, while one mecha- ,nism is operating to iron a shoe, the other is operating to clean a previously ironed shoe.

For the purpose of grouping machines having cold tools such as shown in the patent to Ballard No. 691,576, and those employing tools which are heated such as illustrated in the patent to Ballard No. 791,999 (which as previously stated are termed ironing machines), I employ in the appended claims the terms treeing mechanism or automatic treeing mechanism as including bothforms of machines or mechanisms. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the features of construction and arrangement herein illustrated and described, as many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; and it will be further invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, without having set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. A machine for treating shoes, comprising a treeing mechanism having devices constructed and arranged to rub the upper of a shoe, a cleaning mechanism having devices constructed and arranged to apply a cleansing fluid to and to clean the rubbed upper of a shoe, instrumcntalities for causing a relative operative movement of said devices and the shoes treated thereby, connected instrumentalities for presenting shoes successively to said devices, and automatic means constructed and arranged to cause said devices to operate simultaneously on the shoes presented thereto.

A machine for treating shoes, comprising a trceing mechanism having heated devices constructed and arranged to heat and rub the upper of a shoe, a cleaning mechanism having devices constructed and arranged to apply a cleansing fluid to and to clean the upper of a shoe, instrumentalities constructed and arranged to cause said devices to operate upon shoes presented t iereto, and simultaneously movable connected shoe supports constructed and arranged to present the shoes thereon successively and simultaneously to the said mechanisms, whereby each shoe is first heated and rubbed and is then cleaned, and two shoes are simultaneously heated and rubbed and cleaned respectively.

A machine for treating shoes, comprising a treeing mechanism having heated devices constructed and arranged to heat and rub the upper of a shoe, a cleaning mechanism having devices constructed and arranged to apply a cleansing liuid to and to clean the upper of a shoe, instrumentalities constructed and ar 'anged to cause said devices to operate upon shoes presented there to, and comprising a common drive shaft, and a work carrier having shoe supports arranged to regiser successively and simul taneously with said mechanisms.

The combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: treeing mechanism including heated work-engaging ironing de vices, and means for moving the same relatively to the work, cleaning mechanism including worleengaging brushes, and means for ell'ecting arelative movement thereto with respect to the work, said cleaning mechanism being in proximity to said treeing mechanism, and a work carrier having means for holding two shoes at the same time in potential working relation to said treeing mechanism and cleaning mechanism respectively, said carrier being movable to remove a brushed shoe from said cleaning mechanism and to transfer a heated shoe from said treeing mechanism to said cleaning mechanism to enable said brushes to operate thereupon before said shoe loses the heat imparted by said heated devices, said carrier having means for holding a third shoe in such relation to the two first-mentioned shoes as to carry said third shoe to potential working position for said treeing mechanism when said carrier is moved as aforesaid, and mechanism by Which said ironing and cleaning devices are caused to be operated substantially simultaneously.

5. The combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a treeing mechanism including heated ironing devices for operating upon a shoe, a cleaning mechanism in proximity to said heated devices, said cleaning mechanism including work-engaging devices for operating upon the work, a carrier having a plurality of holders one of which is arranged to present a shoe to and hold it during the action of said heated devices while another is presenting and supporting another shoe to the action of said cleaning devices, said carrier being movable to carry said other shoe from said cleaning mechanism while transferring the first shoe from said treeing mechanism to said cleaning mechanism, and mechanism for operating said cleaning and treeing mechanisms substantially simultaneously and automatically.

6. The combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a treeing mechanism including heated devices for operating upon a shoe, a cleaning mechanism in proximity to said heated devices, said cleaning mechanism including work-engaging devices, and a carrier having a series of shoe holders movable about a common axis one of which is arranged to present a shoe to and support it during the action of said treeing mechanism while another is presenting and supporting another shoe to the action of said cleaning mechanism, and while a third is in position to have a third shoe attached, said holders being so disposed on said carrier that a movement of the carrier to trans fer one shoe from said treeing mechanism to said cleaning mechanism will carry said other shoe away from said cleaning mechanism and said third to said treeing mechanism, mechanism for causing a substantially simultaneous and automatic operation of said treeing and cleaning mechanisms, and a common drive shaft therefor.

7. The combination of the following instruinentalities, to wit: heated means for operating upon a shoe, cleaning mechanism in proximity to said heated means for operatin upon a shoe, and a carrier having a series of shoe holders, said carrier being movable to carry one shoe to one position for the action of said heated means and to another position for the action of said cleaning mechanism, said shoe holders being so In testimony whereof I haveaflixed disposed that one shoe is carried into posignature, in presence of two Witnesses.

tential workin relation to said heated means by a movement of said carrier to HARRIE BALLARD' 5 transfer the preceding shoe from said po- W'itnesses:

tential Working relation to similar relation M. B. MAY, With reference to said cleaning mechanism. A. L. Fonsom.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Eaten; Washington, D. 0. 

